Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Kenya), COTU (K) Secretary General Francis Atwoli has explained why he is the longest-serving leader of the union.
Atwoli has served in Cotu as Secretary General for 23 years after he was elected in 2001.
Speaking on Wednesday, Atwoli said it is not up to him to decide when to retire.
"Are you serving the people who gave you that mandate? That is the question. It is not me to retire, it is them to say. I wanted to retire in 2011 and they said no, I wanted to retire in 2016 they said no. In 2021 I said now you will decide. I'm still around," he said in an interview with Citizen TV.
The Cotu SG said that there are some qualities that those he serves look for in him.
"I have been at the helm of a trade union for some time and I'm the long-serving elected International Labor Organization Governing Body (ILO) for some time, my position is elective. I'm going for elections on June 10. The Africans have refused, I wanted to leave for Tanzanians and they said no," he added.
"Wait, it will be announced from there not here."
In his role as a representative of Kenyan workers, Atwoli has continued championing social justice by advocating for decent work, accountable governments, and better policies for workers.
His current term ends in April 2026 after he won re-election on April 9, 2021.
“I promise to service you with all my might and strength and not betray the trust you have bestowed in me," Atwoli said after he was re-elected in 2021.
By the time of the next election, Atwoli will have served for 25 years.
The Cotu boss is also the General Secretary of the Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union (KPAWU) and was recently re-elected as President of the Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU).
He was elected to serve in the role for a third straight term.
The elections were conducted in November 2023, during the 12th Congress of OATUU in Algiers, Algeria.
Founded in 1973 and headquartered in Accra Ghana, OATUU is the only African trade union organisation that represents all the trade union interests in Africa.
Atwoli also serves workers as a titular member of the International Labor Organization Governing Body (ILO) and Vice President of the International Trade Union Confederation.
